She made it!

We couldn't be happier! Our little pickle has finally matured into a mighty dill. She made it! She is now on the charts(at the bottom of the 10th percentile, but she now has a dot). Our little 2lb12oz baby gherkin has grown into a 25lb giant pickle. We didn't think this day would ever come.

We had our appointment in Shreveport this morning with Ashley's new doctors. It went so well! Dave and I left smiling ear to ear and we talked about how pleased we were the whole way home. The entire team was fabulous and so very encouraging and kind. The doctor had good, good things to say about Ashley's development and after a tough couple of weeks of therapy it was SO encouraging. "Delayed? She is definitely not what I would consider delayed. I just watched her with that book. Under stimulated? Yes, because of the amount of drugs she is on, but don't think of her as delayed. She will get there and her little mind is going to be fine." I can't tell you HOW GOOD it felt to hear a professional say that about Ashley Kate. We are so encouraged and uplifted. To know that somebody else who has never met our Ashley can see the potential that her daddy, her mommy, and Ms. Sue(her physical therapist) can see is wonderful. He had nothing negative to say about her.

We are also beginning a new schedule for her feedings. Gaining 3lbs in 6 weeks is a little too much. Don't get me wrong, she is definitely not fat. We just don't need her growing at that rate for too long. We are going to begin the slow process of cutting her time on the pump and allowing her to feel hungry. We are adding an appetite stimulant and cutting back on the calories she receives from her formula so that her feeding therapy might go a little smoother. This week she will go from 24 hours on the pump down to 20. Then every two weeks we will cut back until she is down to 12 hours again(just like she was before the rejection). Tonight she ate her first baby foods since our return home and we are so pleased! I think one of my favorite quotes from her doctor today was this, "Why did we give her a transplant? We did it so she could eat and grow. Right? We didn't put her through all of this so she could be fed by a tube her whole life did we?" Dave and whole heartedly agree and we are thrilled to be on the same page with him. Our long term goals are to have Ashley Kate eating by mouth. Our short term goals are to rid her of the g-j tube because the doctor confirmed our thoughts that the j portion could be causing her vomiting. It won't happen right away, but it is definitely on the list. We would like to return to the g tube and then eventually get rid of it as well.

Ash has two therapy sessions tomorrow and again on Thursday then she will finish up for the week. She loves the weekends when no one comes in to make her work. She likes to call the shots and those silly therapists just don't let her. She has done a good job so far this week and so I am hoping tomorrow will go well too.

We have been encouraged by all that took place today and I just love how the Lord knows exactly when you need a little encouraging. It couldn't have come at a better time. Good night guys. Trish